Sunday, January 27, 2008

Okay, I am super excited about my party for Nashville brides today! Hillary of A Magical Affair, my event planning team, just created a fantabulous “sponsor swag” sheet that incorporates my signature stripes, my logo and my colors; it looks fantastic. (I still can’t believe that we have event sponsors! I feel so fancy.)

A Magical Affair has a gift for event/wedding planning. I can’t wait to see all the neat touches they have planned for my bridal party. You know I’ll share everything next week - from the cute brides and moms in attendance to the decor; but here’s your sneak peak.

Lipstick Jungle - Join Me for the Exclusive Premiere Party

Lipstick Jungle is a new TV show, based on a book by Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City - hello!). I LOVED Sex and the City so I’m guessing this is another brillant creation. The show debuts on NBC Feb. 7 but we get a sneak peak a week early!

I’ll be there! See ya Thursday.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Lipstick Jungle is a new TV show, based on a book by Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City - hello!). I LOVED Sex and the City so I’m guessing this is another brillant creation. The show debuts on NBC Feb. 7 but we get a sneak peak a week early!

How? Well, here’s the scoop…I’ve become fast friends with Courtney of A Magical Affair. Lucky me! Well, Courtney is the official party host for the Nashville premiere party and she has invited me and my site friends to attend! The party will take place at Take 121 on Thursday, Jan 31 from 6-9pm. Expect great party favors, drinks and fun. If you are interested in joining me at this “Hollywood-meets-the-’ville” event, click here to register with Courtney, then let me know you’re coming too.

I am going to dress like an adult and maybe even take off my “web girl, nerdy glasses”. So, if I dont recognize you, I’m not being shady…I just can’t see ya. Speak anyway.

If you are wondering what this has to do with weddings….well, I am inviting wedding professionals and brides and the party is being thrown by a wedding/event planner - there! :)

See ya on Sunday (if you’re coming to my event) and Thursday (at Lipstick).

I’ve had a crush on Wonferful Graffiti for a long time. I think they are one of the most extraordinary companies ever. I would marry them if I could, especially their lollipop invitations, which I love. They offer so many neat touches for the bride who dares to be fabulous. Their items are splurge items BUT they add instant elegance to any wedding or event. Check them out and you’ll love them too.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Ashley asked me to share some of the invitations that she fell in love with at the most recent Nashville bridal show. As I told her, my website has additional designs; we’re always adding more! Everything we do is custom, so we can easily match your color scheme, add or eliminate elements of any invitation, or create something especially for you! Plus, we’re based in Nashville, TN so we can get together to create the invitation of your dreams!

Best Wishes for a flawless wedding!

Shannon O’Kelley

Creative Director, myOWNvitations

Think pink! Nothing says “opulance” like this handmade fuschia paper with rich gold flocking! We loved it so much we designed an entire line of invitations around it.

Middle Tennessee brides went wild for this one at the bridal show. It’s classy, it’s different, and best of all, we recreate it in just about any color combination you can imagine. (Sadly, peacocks are less cooperative in changing their color scheme, but we can always embellish it with something else.)

Looking for something truly different? Your guests will never have seen anything like this (but in a good way). This booklet style invitation contains as many pages as you need. Include reception information, hotel accommodations, your life story, whatever you want!

Let’s face it- you’re a pretty cute couple! Why not prepare everyone for the insane cuteness they will experience at your wedding with a little preview on the invitation?

Love the look of letterpress? We digitally print our invitations on the exact same paper used in letterpress- 100% fine art cotton- to produce a similar look for a fraction of the price. Faux letterpress? Not at all. It’s your friend! (Get it?)

Did we mention that we also have a variety of invitations for showers, teas, and bachelorette parties? Maybe you should forward this to your maid of honor just to make sure she gets you something good…

Thursday, January 24, 2008

As some of you know, we now have a message board! A few of you have started posting, others have sat back and spectated. Message boards are not a spectaters sport - youve got to dive right in and get addicted like the rest of us:) I know you’ve got questions or have advice for others…why plan alone (or listen to me chat all day) when you can leverage all of the brains in the Nashville area.

For instance, sweetvenus responded to one bride who sought a combo location for her wedding ceremony and reception. I was simply amazed at sweetvenus’ response. Her list was so very helpful and made me realize the need for a blog on great combo locations. (Stay tuned…hey sweetvenus - want to help me research? sounds like youve done most of it already:).

(Note - You will need to register for the message board. (Even if you are registered on ABG already. Sorry - minor glitch in my system. But, it only takes 2 seconds to register for the board. When you do, select the same username and password as you did when you registered on ABG. That way, its easier to remember.)

Hurry over to the board - I have a few questions that have yet to receive a response. I am feeling a bit unloved.

Hope to see you on the message boards!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Wedding Album

One of the my favorite parts in the process of photographing a wedding is opening up a box that contains a clients wedding album! After all of our work photographing the wedding, editing the images, helping a client choose their images, and then designing the album, it is a wonderful sense of accomplishment to see the final product! It is a completed work of art which a bride will be able to someday show her children and grandchildren. How amazing is that?!

In the world we live in, there are so many more choices for the final product than ever before. Traditional matted albums can now come in metallic or wood covers with fun pages that fold out. You can have a thin coffee table book that looks like it was bought at Barnes & Noble. The most popular albums available now are thick albums with large images mounted onto each page. Most of the time, these albums incorporate graphic design, to help the story of the day unfold as each page is turned. Every wedding photographer will offer albums from different companies and different styles. When you talk with your wedding photographer, he/she will be able to show you the different options they offer and help you decide which one will work best for you.

Our goal at Dove is to make each book personal and to reflect the style of the bride and groom. Here are a few examples of pages from Jennifer & Matt’s album. The pages are going to be printed on thick linen textured paper and be bound with a leather cover. I love how this has the feel of an old book. Even though the design is modern and unique, it is classic and will really stand the test of time. If you look closely, you will see text throughout the book that reflects their vows.

You can see the rest of the album by clicking here: www.doveweddingphotography.com/JenniferMattAlbum

Whitney Carlson
Owner, Dove Wedding Photography
www.doveweddingphotography.com